Guzmania plant named &#39;BUNDEWH&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Guzmania  cultivar named ‘BUNDEWH’ is disclosed, characterized by unique white inflorescence color and compact plant habit. The new variety is a  Guzmania , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Guzmania hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘BUNDEWH’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a new cultivar of Guzmania. The new variety is the product of chance discovery, by the inventor, Bjorn Bunnik. The new variety originated as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation from the unpatented commercial variety Guzmania ‘Voila’.

The new variety was first selected by the inventor, in at a commercial greenhouse in Kudelstaart, the Netherlands. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘BUNDEWH’, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BUNDEWH’ was first performed at a commercial laboratory in Kudelstaart, Netherlands by tissue culture in 2008. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation, multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BUNDEWH’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BUNDEWH.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BUNDEWH’ as a new and distinct Guzmania cultivar:

1. White inflorescence.

2. Green leaves.

3. Compact plant shape.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BUNDEWH’ are similar to the parent in most horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘BUNDEWH’ differs from the ‘Voila’ in the following characteristics:

1. New variety is a more compact plant.

2. Inflorescence of ‘Voila’ is pink.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BUNDEWH’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the unpatented commercial variety Guzmania ‘Bolero’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,893 in most horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘BUNDEWH’ differs from ‘Bolero’ in the following characteristics:

1. Inflorescence of ‘BUNDEWH’ is shorter.

2. Leaves of the new variety are shorter and broader.

3. Plant habit of the new variety is more compact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘BUNDEWH’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in De Kwakel, Netherlands. The plant is 20 months old from a rooted cutting, in a 12 cm pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe a typical plant of ‘BUNDEWH’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in De Kwakel, Netherlands. The plant is 20 months old from a rooted cutting, in a 12 cm pot. Temperatures ranged between 20° C. and 28° C. during the day 18° C. and 22° C. at night. No supplemental lighting was given. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Guzmania hybrid ‘BUNDEWH’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation typically used.—Tissue culture.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at approximately 20°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner.—About 180 days at             approximately 22° C.         -   Root description.—Moderately dense, moderately branched,             fine, fibrous, not fleshy, coloured brown; near RHS 200A to             200D. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright, monopodial.         -   Height.—Average: 34.5 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average: 58.0 cm.         -   Normal pot size.—12 cm (circular).         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Branching characteristics.—Monopodial, leaves form a basal             rosette, inflorescence grows from the center of the rosette.         -   Number of leaves per scape.—Average: 24.         -   Stem length.—No stems present, scape grows directly from             rosette. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Rosulate; leaves (average: 24) placed in             a basal rosette Average Length: Approximately 30.2 cm.             Average Width: Approximately 4.1 cm (measured at 50% length             of the leaf blade) Shape of blade: Ligulate Aspect: Base in             an average angle of 40° to horizontal, tip arching downward             in an average angle of 40° to horizontal Apex: Apiculate,             curved downward in an average angle of 40° to horizontal             Base: Sheathing Sheath length: Average 7.3 cm Sheath width:             Average 8.4 cm. Sheath color: Greyed-yellow, near RHS 166A             Margin: Entire Texture of top surface: Glabrous, glossy             Texture of bottom surface: Glabrous, glossy Color: Young             foliage upper side: Green to yellow-green; in between RHS             143A and 146A, Young foliage under side: Yellow-green; in             between RHS 144A and 146B Mature foliage upper side: Green             to yellow-green; in between Width: Approximately 2.9 cm             (measured at 50% of the leaf blade) Quantity: Average 15             Tip: Apiculate to long apiculate Base: Sheathing Sheath             length: Approximately 2.4 cm. Sheath width: Approximately             4.4 cm. Sheath color: Yellow-green; near RHS 145B Margin:             Entire Coloration Terminal Bracts: Upper side: Yellow-green             and greyed-yellow; near RHS 150D and 160D, top of lower             terminal brachts yellow-green; near RHS 144A Under side:             Yellow-green and greyed-yellow; near RHS 150D and 160D, top             of lower terminal brachts yellow-green; near RHS 144A. -   Flower: Individual Flowers not observed. -   Reproductive organs: Not observed -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             the normal diseases and pests of Guzmania has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Observed to tolerate temperatures to             35° C. without any negative effects. Temperature tolerance             above this range has not been observed. Tolerance of cold             temperatures has not been observed.         -   Fruit/seed production.—No fruits/seeds detected to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named ‘BUNDEWH’ as herein illustrated and described. 